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[bearshermark]

How does a farmer become rich suddenly? I don't think I've ever heard a story like that before. At least not without marriage. All I can think is either I have a noblewoman as a wife or I got real lucky playing slots when I left for the city. I'm not sure what's more believable.

I was also mistaken for a ferryman when I was steering a gondola the other day while wearing a different mask. It's kind of nice, so I think I'll keep at it for an hour or two a night. I thought it might be helpful if two people from opposite sides need to meet in person for a little while.

-Eleven

Comments

[darkeststars]

If it's that hard on you, perhaps it would be useful to make a pact to keep ourselves honest with. As long as you keep doing your best to play along with the farce, I will keep doing my best not to maim any of these idiots, and vice versa.

[ pause ]

Hm, upon rereading that sounds like a threat. Ah well.

[ pause again. He does not correct himself to make it sound like less of a threat. Look, being in a noble court where he can't legally kill most people who annoy him is a new experience for him okay. ]

The water is nice. I've not visited a city where the streets were all canals before. Hadn't expected to have such a genuinely unique experience on this planet.

[bearshermark]

It almost sounds like if you fail, I'm allowed to murder people.

[He would never of course, but he can appreciate Archeval's severe humor much more now that he has his own annoyances to put up with]

But it's true there are some nice things about this place. If ever you want to ride along the canal of course, I'd be happy to. I'd had some practice in a sea-side town in my own world.

[darkeststars]

Come now, Eleven, you're always allowed to murder people. The only matter ever in question is how many other beings in your immediate surroundings disagree with you.

[ It's not clear how much he's joking, but well, this is Arche. You don't really want to hear Darth Imperius's full opinions on murdering people, El. ]

It hasn't been terrible, overall. The people are largely insufferable, but that's true of most places. I do far prefer dealing with the insufferable after enjoying three square meals, a clean bed in a warm room, halfway adequate bathing facilities, and reasonable temperatures.

Perhaps I will take you up on the gondola just to get away from the madness for a bit. Whichever way we choose, I do think we should speak in person when we can. You and I seem to work together better than some of this lot, so being on 'opposite sides' could present opportunities... we should coordinate together where we can.

[bearshermark]

I'd disagree on most days.

But I'm glad this place is treating you well otherwise. We'll get through this. And it's rather peaceful out on the water, so feel free to come find me to talk anytime you like.

[darkeststars]

Yes, and that's what makes you the hero, hero.

I suppose we'd both surely rather this than more fatal cold and walking corpses, at the very least. Should we try to figure out a time to meet? Or do you think Vannozza's people are paying too much attention right now?

[bearshermark]

Goddess, most anything is better than Sa-Hareth and those mines.

I haven't noticed undue attention, however. Two days hence, once night falls?

[darkeststars]

Should be able to wrangle that, I believe. [ following afterward are his suggestions of a couple of potential spots along the canals that he thinks he could get to inconspicuously ]

I will see you there. In the meantime, hm...don't do anything I wouldn't do. [ you can feel the sarcasm, right? right. ]

[bearshermark]

I'll be sure to ferry along those areas.

Shouldn't that be don't do anything you would do?

[darkeststars]

Well I hope you will do a few things that I would do. Read up on our full local situation, for one thing. If you and I were to be caught out together I suppose we'd have to have a substantial reason for two such deadly, mortal enemies to be found alone at night in the same place, hm? [ it's harder to tell over text whether he's joking or not, but on the other hand, this also sounds like a legitimate suggestion. ]

[bearshermark]

Deadly mortal enemies.

[Just gonna sigh quietly to himself. At least he can pull on his initial discomfort around Archeval to lend some credence to that, but it otherwise sounds like an exhausting farce]

It's hard enough to read through all my healing papers, and I actually care about that. I'm not sure how much on politics I'm going to be able to get through without wanting to fight someone.

[darkeststars]

Been doing some actual studying, have you? It's been hard to keep track of what everyone's up to under these circumstances. [ The physical separation, the feeling vaguely ill and wrestling with an undead presence in his head, you know, the usual. ]

But I imagine if we were really in such a pinch I could probably come up with something. I've certainly listened to enough of these imbeciles drone on and on about the minutiae of this succession battle.

[bearshermark]

I was invited to take spiritual healing classes at one of the minor magic schools. They said they could sense there was something off about mine. And well, the healer's halls don't seem to mind so I'm taking some classes there to broaden my abilities while we're here as well.

[darkeststars]

I see. And your powers are

[ pause ]

Cooperating well with that?

[ whatever El's got going on, if it's still recovering then there could well be a fine line between exercising and overtaxing. ]

[bearshermark]

I haven't had any trouble so far, but it's all basic stuff right now. Meditation and theory. I'm not actually trying to use any magic just yet. I hope it goes well.